106 EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



The eggs of Sabine's Gull vary in ground-colour from pale 

 brown to dark brown, occasionally approaching olive-brown. 

 The spots are small, varying from the size of a pea downwards, 

 and are generally somewhat indistinct and sparingly but evenly 

 distributed. The surface-spots are darkish brown, and the under- 

 lying spots are greyish-brown, but very indistinct. Occasionally 

 one or two almost black spots or streaks are found, principally at 

 the large end of the egg. They vary in length from 1*8 to 1"7 

 inch, and in breadth from 1*3 to 1*2 inch. In colour the eggs of 

 this bird most resemble Skuas' eggs, but are much too small to 

 be confused with any of them. 



EOSS'S GULL. 

 (Larus rossi.)* 



Plate 30, Fig. 6. 



The claim of Ross's Gull to a place in the British list rests 

 upon a single example, and the occurrence is surrounded with 

 some doubt. The range of the species is circumpolar, as it 

 breeds in the high north beyond the Arctic circle in both the 

 Old and New Worlds. 



The egg figured was sent from Christianshaab, on the south 

 shore of Disco Bay, in Greenland, about 69° N. lat. The old bird 

 which accompanied it was shot on the nest. The egg is of 

 exactly the same character as that of Sabine's Gull, but is rather 

 larger, measuring 1'9 by 1'3 inch. 



BONAPARTE'S GULL. 

 (Larus Philadelphia.) 



Plate 36, Fig. 7. 



Bonaparte's Gull is another American species which acciden- 

 tally visits the British Islands. It is an inland species, and 

 breeds in the semi-Arctic portions of North America, from Alaska 

 to Labrador. 



Kennicott found the nests of Bonaparte's Gulls near Fort 

 Yukon. One was built on the branch of a green spruce, near a 

 lake, about twenty feet from the ground, and others were in 



* Rhodostethia rosea — Saunders, Manual, p. G43. 



